1941. Wings Over Berlin (Russian: 1941. Крылья над Берлином, romanized: 1941. Krylya nad Berlinom) is a 2022 Russian WWII film directed by Konstantin Buslov, also presented by the producer and one of the film's screenwriters. It stars Maksim Bityukov and Sergei Puskepalis in supporting roles.
The film tells about the heroic deed of the pilots of the 1st Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the Baltic Fleet Air Force, headed by Colonel Preobrazhensky, who were tasked with striking Berlin.
1941. Wings Over Berlin is scheduled to be theatrically released in Russia on wide screen April 28, 2022.
Contents
Plot
The film tells the story of the preparations for the first bombing of Berlin by Soviet Air Forces in August 1941 using Ilyushin DB-3 aircraft.
The complexity of the task consisted not only in the powerful air defense of the German territories, but also in the flight range. The strike group of the 1st Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the 8th air brigade of the Baltic Fleet Air Force under the command of Colonel Yevgeny Preobrazhensky had to overcome almost 1800 kilometers without refueling. The route passed along the line: the island of Ezel Saaremaa - Swinemünde - Stettin - Berlin at a distance of 1765 km, of which 1400 km were above the sea. The flight duration was 7 hours. The main defense against enemy air defenses could only be the flight altitude, but it was not just a high altitude, but the maximum - 7 thousand meters. The temperature outside reached minus 35-40 degrees, because of which the glass of the cockpits of the aircraft and the goggles of the headsets froze over. In addition, the pilots had to work all these hours in oxygen masks.
That night, five planes of the 1st Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment, led by its commander Yevgeny Preobrazhensky, flew over Berlin, attacking military targets in Berlin, the rest bombed the German port city of Stettin. “My place is Berlin! The task was completed. Let's go back to base!" These words of radio operator Vasily Krotenko sounded live on the night of August 8, 1941 over the blazing ruins of military facilities in the capital of the Third Reich.
Cast
Maksim Bityukov as Colonel Yevgeny Preobrazhensky
Sergei Puskepalis as Air Lieutenant General Semyon Zhavoronkov
Gela Meskhi as Vladimir Kokkinaki, a test pilot
Andrei Kharenko as Khokhlov, flagship navigator
Sergey Gilyov as Captain Vydrin
Yevgeny Antropov as Kachanov, a navigator
Vladimir Tyaptushkin as Ryzhy, an experienced shooter
Stepan Belozerov as Murashov, a rookie shooter
Nikolai Kozak as Oganezov, air regiment commissar
Aleksey Ovsyannikov as Major Baranov, squadron leader
Aleksandr Metyolkin as Lieutenant Cheremis, his navigator
Leonela Manturova as Emma, a local teacher
Production
The script for the film was written by Aleksey Borodachyov and Anatoly Usov, who previously worked with Konstantin Buslov together when creating the biographical film AK-47 (2020 film). The director of the tape was also made by Konstantin Buslov.
An inaccuracy has been made. DB-3-2M-87 bombers are depicted as raiding Berlin. In fact, DB-3F-2M-88 aircraft took part in it. In 1942, the aircraft was renamed Il-4.
Filming
Principal photography historical paintings took place on the Estonian island of Saaremaa, Moscow and Berlin.
Release
1941. Wings Over Berlin was released in the Russian Federation in theaters on April 28, 2022, by KaroRental.